Manchester United will be relishing the prospect of facing an Arsenal side that barring all their transfers, injuries and suspensions, and have won only one game in eight visits to the champion’s den in all competitions.
United host the gunners with two wins in the league so far while the Gunners have yet to register their first. With Old Trafford becoming a fortress of late for the Premier League champions, few would bet against them dropping two or three points against an opponent who look to be scrutinized for their transfer policies which have put them in a sticky situation with barely four days to go.
Perhaps a successful Champions League qualifier against Udinese last Wednesday will boost Arsenal’s confidence going into game. The ill-fated timing of suspensions for Alex Song, Emmanuel Frimpong and Gervinho leave only Aaron Ramsey to hold the Fort for Arsenal. While their defense is settled on paper at least, Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou, and Laurent Koscielny are available. The only doubts for Arsenal are Thomas Vermaleen and Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere.
That leaves the north London outfit with a brute forward line that luckily for them, isn’t fraught with any suspensions or injuries. Robin Van Persie, Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott will look to attack with pace while Gervinho sits watches from the stands, or from London. There’s no doubt that the Ivorian footballer has added some more bite into their attack as well and his early season energy will be missed.
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| Wenger's getting the Hair Dryer as well! Tee Hee! |
For United, although it’s too early to get carried away by promising talent, Fergie’s latest fledglings seem to be taking whatever opportunities they get. Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have managed to sustain the attention of United’s faithful with their positive play and rather than dwelling on United’s retirees. What’s better for United is that these boys have brought some much-needed energy into United’s side thus adding a bit of freshness to their game; something the team have been lacking in the past.
Even with a wealth of young talent that look set to start the game after impressing recently, Ferguson still has Evra, Giggs, Park, Berbatov and Owen on the bench. That in itself is enviable given that the gaffer may decide to throw on some experience if he wishes to.
But putting aside all the talent and suspensions, this game may be won or lost depending on two main men - David De Gea or Wojciech Szczesny. Both young, talented, agile and there for the long term, these goalkeepers have their work cut out for them.
With the Arsenal stopper impressing in his midweek Italian job and looking more confident than his United counterpart, most eyes will lie on De Gea. With the pressure subsiding momentarily for David after he kept his first clean sheet in a competitive match, he’d do his confidence a world of good to keep that run going.
And then there’s Rooney, Nani, Young and Chicharito to contend with. It almost looks though as if Arsenal will set up with a defensive formation looking to counter with pace up front. Should Arsenal’s seemingly frail defense be unlocked at anytime, they would find it hard to come back at United who will look to mount pressure on the away side for a whole ninety minutes plus Fergi time.
While football does throw up the odd result, United look like clear favourites to edge out the Gunners given the contrasting fortunes between these two clubs in terms of players available for this fixture.
While Arsene Wenger needs a win to give him and his team some breathing space from all the criticism they’ve been under, a point wouldn’t be bad for the gunners given the current state of their squad as well.
However, should United prevail, it will leave the gunners eight points shy of their opponents and that’s exactly what United will be looking to do by piling on the misery for Wenger and Co.
My Starting line - Ups
Manchester United (4-4-1-1) :
De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Evans, Evra, Cleverley, Anderson, Nani, Young, Rooney, Chicharito.
Arsenal (4-1-4-1) :
Szczesny ( I got his name right without googling it. ) Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny ( this one too ) Sagna, Djourou, Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, Arshavin, Van Persie.
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